Current collector shoe



.. 11m 2 E940 E. c. RYAN 185,2

CURRENT COLLECTOR SHOE Filed April 1, 1958 X .Inventor Enma @RYAN Attorney Patented Jan. 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE i CURRENT COLLECTOR SHOE Edmund C. Ryan, Mansfield, Ohio,'assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April l, 1938, Serial No. 199,483

9 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in the construction of current collector shoes or sliders used on electric vehicles receiving current from a trolley wire.

The shoe or slider moves along and in engagement with the trolley wire and both are, therefore, subject to wear through friction therebetween.

Many have devoted considerable study and experiment to improve the slider or shoe in an effort of overcoming the objections therewith.

The questions coped with have been numerous; namely, whether to make the shoe of ferrous or non-ferrous metal or a combination thereof, as

for instance, the body of bronze and an insert of steel (hardened or soft) or a body of steel with a bonze insert; what grade of bronze or nonferrous metal should be used whether to make the body of ferrous or non-ferrous metal with a carbon insert; the length of the bearing surface of the shoe with the trolley wire; the shape Aand depth of the groove and various other points have been considered.

While the shoe or slider, as heretofore made, meets in a general way universal satisfaction, I have given the subject close study with the idea of still further perfecting the same and have developed a device which I find by actual commercial trials to be superior to previous constructions.

One object of my invention is to provide a shoe in which the part subjectto most wear may be easily renewed, thus avoiding rthe rejection of the entire device when worn.

Another object is to make the renewable part of a material which will offer the least amount of wear to the trolley wire and at the same time coat the surface with a lubricant and polish the surface thereof.

Another object is tov so construct the body or holder that it will emciently and positively hold and retain the insert.

A further object is to so construct the shoe that the body or holder may be made of a nonferrous metal of high conductivity.

A still further object is to construct a device so that the holder will not normally engage with the trolley wire.

A further object is to construct the insert of carbon such that it may be conveniently and economically produced.

Other objects will be obvious and will appear hereinafter.

My invention therefore resides in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing and comprising the new and novel construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved shoe shown in partial longitudinal section and mountedupon a support as indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a top view of my improved shoe shown in Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 3 is an end view of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an inner face view of one-half of the holder which I use. 16 I Fig. 6 is an inside face view of another part of the holder.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the holder part shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the insert shown in n Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the aforesaid insert. Figs. 10 and 11 are side and top views respectively of a modified lform of insert. 25

Fig. 12 is an end view of a modification of the insert shown in Figs. 8 and 9. I

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I employ a holder I of metal either ferrous or non-ferrous. The holder comprises parts 2 and 3 having adjacent vertical longitudinally disposed faces I and 5 respectively.

The holder -is made preferably in two parts along a vertical longitudinal plane. The parts 2 and 3 are provided with upstanding flanges 6 and 1 respectively. These flanges provide a groove 8 when the parts are in assembled rela-v tion which tends to prevent dewirement. The ends of the groove 8 have aligned surfaces 9 which, however, do not contact with the trolley wire I0.

The shoe is mounted upon a support which may be of various detailed constructions and is indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.

In the preferred construction of the shoe for mounting upon a support, I provide a transverse 45 slot II at one end of the parts 2 and l, which may interlock with a counterpart hook on the support.

At the other end of the shoe I provide a downwardly projecting lug I2 which is integral with 5o the part 2 and projects transversely beyond the longitudinal center of the holder I such that the axis of the threaded opening `I3 is in alignment with the longitudinal center of the holder.

The threaded opening I3 is adapted to receive r a threaded screw on the support for locking the holder to the support.

The parts 2 and 3 are provided at each end with-registering passages I4 and I8 respectively. The passages I4 are unthreaded and the passages I8 threaded. The passages I4 have enlarged openings I8 to receive the head of a screw I1 whereby the parts 2 and 3 are drawn together and held securely in place.

Each part 2 and l is provided on its inner face with a cut-out portion having a depression or pocket I8 and I9 respectively to receive an insert 20. The depressions I8 and I8 form shoulders 2| and 22 respectively against which the insert 20 rests thus preventing its displacement upwardly.

In order to aid in the economical production of the members 2 and 3, they are so designed that they may be made from cast metal and molded on their vertical face without the use of cores, thus it is possible to recess the casting where the vertical faces of the depressions I8 and I9 meet the shoulders 2| and 22 respectively, as indicated at 23 and 24. 'I'he grooves 23 and 24 will' be formed in the castings at the time produced and will prevent the sand of the mould breaking away in the corners, thus preventing the insert from properly fitting the frame or acquiring any defects in the corners to be later removed at'considerabie expense. This is an important feature of my improved construction as it lends materially to economical production and lower cost of the device to the consumer.

If it is not deemed advisable to provide the grooves 23 and 24, then the edge of the insert should be cut away or bevelled as at 25 in Fig. 12.

The opening 28 formed by the cut-out portion in the frame for receiving the insert is shown as extending entirely through the frame in a vertical direction, that is, the opening 28 intersects the bottom face of th frame, thus the insert is free to fall out through the bottom if the screws I1 should be somewhat loose and the frame not in position on the support. l

In order to insure the insert 20 being held against inadvertent removal through the bottom of the frame, I provide a longitudinal ridge 21 on the inner face of the depressions I8 and/or I8. I, also, provide the insert 20 with longitudinal depressions or grooves 28 corresponding to the ridge or ridges 21.

The proper seating and holding of the insert 20 in position in the frame is found to be extremely important especially when the insert is made of carbon or graphite or a non-metallic conductor. The insert is subject to a great amount of abuse in that it is in moving contact with the trolley wire and as it moves along the wire it is naturally subject to wear' and also to more or less shocks, incident to the supports for vholding the trolley wire, andit is subjected to a great deal of heat on account of the current which it must carry.

It is found that under the severe conditions of operation, the graphite may in some cases be subject to severe checking, and if the insert is not properly held in the frame the checking may be so severe that parts of the insert may be entirely loosened and fall away.

However, with the insert held' in position against the shoulders 2I and 22 and interlocked with the ridges 21 and, also. securely clamped against the faces of the depressions I8 and I9,4

I have found that such checking takes place will not result in the loss of portions of the insert which will continue to function until renewed. Good electrical contact between the insert and the faces of the parts 2 and 3 is very important in keeping the temperature of the insert at a minimum.

One of the important features of my invention is to provide a shoe in which the holder may be used in connection with a number of replacements of the insert before it becomes necessary to replace the holder. This is accomplished to a large degree by the shallow or supplementary groove 29, which is of less width than the width Y of the holder, thus maintaining the shoe in position and thev anges 8 and 1 out of contact with the trolley wire when the insert is new and which relation will be maintained as the groove 29 wears deeper.

It will be noted that the dimension X is greater than the dimension Y, thus producing the shoulders 2l and 22.

'I'he distance Y between the flanges 8 and 1 is increased as at Z, in order to better clear the overhead supporting devices for the trolley wire.

The groove 28 is preferably made straight and parallel with the inner faces of the flanges 8 and 1 and is, also, parallel with the lower face 80 of the insert. The cross-section of the insert is preferably rectangular except for the groove 28 although the vertical side walls upwardly and inwardly.

The opening or recess 28 for the insert is shown as intersecting the lower face of the holder, but itis evident that this opening or recess may have a closed bottom. In this case the ridge 21 is-V unnecessary if the shoulders 2I and 22 are maintained.

If desired, the insert 20 may be of bronze or of a ferrous metal, but to secure the best results,

I prefer the insert to be of a non-metallic con- 'iuctor such as carbon or graphite.

In Figs. l0 and 11 I have shown a modification of the insert which may be of metal or nonmetallic conductor, preferably the former.

In this form of the insert the central portion I 3| corresponds to the insert shown in Fig. 9 and the projecting end portions 32 are added. The insert is mounted in the holder the same as the insert shown in, Figs. 8 and 9, excepting that the ridge 21 is unnecessary as the portions 82 rest upon the surfaces 9 of the holder.

The projecting side parts 33 extend into the depressions I8 and I8 of the holder and contact with the shoulders 2i and 22. The groove 24 is naturally longer and gives more contact with the sive as compared with an insert which requires .i

the manufacture thereof in separate molds, that is, each insert 'being produced individually.

The insert represented by Fig. 12 may alsb be produced in',l the same manner, but not so the insert shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

By graphite I refer to the natural form or that and by carbon I refer to the well known form commonly used in the manufacture of brushes for electric generators and motors; the term carmay be tapered produced synthetically in an electric furnace, A

arcades bon applies herein to both forms, both are nonmetallic conductors. I may also use an insert made of a mixture of finely pulverized carbon and metal, such as copper, pressed into shape.

Inserts composed of the above materials are naturally frangible to a considerable degree aS compared with the metal alone and therefore require a holder which will properly clamp and support the insert.

The groove 29 is spaced considerably above the holder surfaces 9 and vtherefore considerable wear of the insert may take place before-the trolley wire can contact with the surfaces 9.

Having disclosed my invention, I claim:

l. A current collector shoe to engage with a trolley wire comprising, an elongated rectangular metallic holder and an elongated insert of nonmetallic current-conducting material, the holder being split lengthwise to form two parts and each part having a recess cooperating to form a single recess having a rectangular opening to receive the insert, each part of said holder having a groove at one end to register with the groove of the other part to form a single transverse groove' to engage with a part on a support, a projecting lug at the other end of one part and having means to receive other means to secure the shoe to the support, spaced upstanding flanges on the holder extending along the upper longitudinal edges of the insert, a longitudinal groove in the insert, the said groove being of less width than the widthof the space between the flanges at the exposed surface of the insert to receive and to guide the trolley wire and maintain it under normal operation out of contact with the "-tiianges of the holder.

iw12.,a current collector shoe for the purpose describedvcomprising, an elongated holder of metal havin/gffcfspaced side and end walls and upstanding hanged/an elongated recess between the walls, an insert positioned in the recess, the side walls of the recess being depressed to form a shoulder to hold the insert against vertical movement in one direction, the flanges and insert forming a. groove to resist dewirement of the shoe, a groove in the face of the insert to hold the idanges out of contact with the trolley wire during normal operation, a groove formed in the holder along the line of meeting of the said side faces and the shoulder to permit the insert properly seating in the recess, the holder being separated into two parts along a longitudinal and vertical plane to permit renewal of the insert when worn, means to draw the holder parts together into clamping engagement with the insert and means gto secure the shoe to a support, the last said means comprising a depending hook on one end of each holder part and a projecting threaded vlug on the other end of one holder part but overlapping theadjacent end of the other holder part.

3. A current collector shoe comprising, an elongated metal member having an elongated open top and open bottom recess, a separately formed member positioned in the recess, raised means on one member interlocking with depressed means on the other member to position the two members relative to each other, means associated with the first member whereby the width of the recess may be increased to permit the insertion 'of the said second member, means to reduce the width of the recess after the insertion of the member and means to attach the shoe to a support.

4. A current collector shoe for the purpose describedcomprising, an elongated member of metal having spaced flanges forming an elongated groove therebetween, an elongated opening between the flanges, an elongated member of carbon positioned in the opening, the first said member being split longitudinally through the opening to form two parts, means for drawing the parts into holding engagement with the said second member, the side walls of the opening being depressed and each forming a shoulder overlapping the adjacent edge of the second member to lock the said second member against movement in one direction, relative to the first member, a groove formed in each part of the first member along the line of meeting of the side face of the depression and theshoulder to permit the said second member properly seating in the opening, means forming a part of one member interlocked with means forming a part of the other member to lock the said second member against movement relative to the first member in a direction opposite to the aforesaid direction and means to attach the first member to a support. v

5. An insert for use in a metallic holder for a current collector shoe having spaced upstanding iianges and a recess comprising, an elongated block of conducting material for positioning in said recess and having one face adapted to slidably engage with a trolley wire and to form with the ilanges a groove to -resist dewirement, the block also having side faces to engage with the holder, a depression in at least one side face to interlock with projecting means on the holder to secure the insert against movement relative to the holder, a longitudinal groove in the iirst said face of the block which is less in width than the width of the space between the iianges to receive and center the trolley wire relative to the flanges and prevent contact therewith during normal operation.

6. A metallic holder for a current collector shoe comprising, a. substantially rectangular frame having spaced upstanding side walls and iianges and an intermediate recess'to receive and hold an insert and having a bottom opening through which the insert may be inserted into the recess, the frame having means whereby the opening may be increased in width, the side faces of the recess being depressed thereby forming faces to contact with the side faces of the insert, a projection on the said depressed face to interlock with a depression in the insert, transverse means at each end of the holder to reduce the width of the opening and draw the sides into engagement with the insert and means on the lower face of the frame for attachment to a support.

7. A current collector shoe to engageand glide along a trolley wire comprising an elongated metallic holder having spaced upstanding ilanges and provided with an elongated recess, a frangible current-conducting' insert positioned in the recess and having an exposed face to engage the trolley wire, means to secure `the holder to a support, the shoe provided with two parallel longitudinal grooves, one groove to resist dewirement of the shoe and formed by the spaced upstanding flanges and the exposed face of the insert and the other groove formed in the exposed face of the insert to receive the trolley wire and prevent the said flanges engaging the trolley wire under normal operating conditions, the width of the second groove being less than the width of the space between the said ilanges.-

8. A current collector shoe to slidably engage with atrolley wire comprising, an elongated rectangular holder and an elongated insert oi current-conducting material, the holder split '5 longitudinally to. form two parts, each part having a recess cooperating to form a single open top recess in which the insert is positioned with its. surface. .exposed in said top opening, spaced upstandingila'nges on the holder extending along lo the upper longitudinal edges of the insert and forming with the insert a groove to receive the ftrolley wire and prevent dewirement, means-to.

secure the holder parts in close contact with'the insert. means to secure the shoe to a support.: the 1Q said means comprising a depending hook on one end of each holder part and a projecting threaded lug on the other end of one holder. part but overlapping the adjacent end .of the other holder part and a supplementary groove formed in the 20 exposed upper face of the insert parallel to the upstanding flanges, the supplementary groove being of less width than the space between the ilanges t receive the trolley-wire and guide the shoe along the wire under normal conditions 25 without contacting the flanges.

msaa

vprevent dewirement of the shoe, a supplementary l0 longitudinal groove in the contact face of the insert and of less width lthan the width ot the space betwen the ilangesto guide the shoe with the ilanges out oi contact with the trolley wire under normal operation, a longitudinal projecting 15 ridge on an inner side face of the said recess interlocking with a longitudinal groove in the adjacent face of the insert to secure the holder and insert against displacement. the holder being split longitudinally to permit of insertion 'of the 20 insert and means to draw the holder parts together to clamp the insert and maintain the interlock between the holder and insert.

EDMUND C. RYAN. 25 

